"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." -Ernest Hemingway

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Axe Historique, my new photo goal

I've decided for the next few days to photograph the major sights along the Axe Historique, "a line of buildings, monuments, and thoroughfares that extends from the center of Paris, France, to the west." (from Wikipedia).

Starting closest to the center (denoted by the A), and at the oldest point on the axis, the main points are:
1. The Louvre (off kilter by just a few degrees)
2. Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
3. Jardin des Tuileries
4. Place de la Concorde
5. Champs Elysees (from which one can see both the Grand and Petit Palais and the Palais de l'Elysees, the presidential Palace)
6. Place de l'Etoile, with the Arc du Triomphe
7. Palais des Congress (on the perimeter of Paris)
8. Grande Arc de la Defense

Day 11: The Louvre. I wanted to get a little more creative with the photo, 1) because I've pretty much already taken this photo and 2) it's not that original, but this is probably the most recognized shot; none of my others were very Louvre-y, so the Pyramid it is. Started as a 12th century fortress (the foundations of which are still visible in the basement...very cool) and continuously expanded until it was abandoned by Louis XIV for Versailles, it was turned into a museum during the French Revolution. Frankly when I went I found the architecture more interesting than the art, but I need to go back and check out some of the more interesting parts (doing it all in one day is exhausting just thinking about it).

Day 12: Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

Day 12: the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. Built by Napoleon as a testament to his military victories (contrary to popular belief, the French have had some military victories and like to flaunt them whenever possible) on the site of the fomer Palais des Tuileries (no longer in existance). I got the Eiffel Tower in there too, because really, what's a Paris picture without the Eiffel Tower to spruce things up?

So I'm working my way down the axis; tomorrow will be the Tuileries; maybe eventually a picture showing how well everything really is lined up (if the weather gets clear enough again to see that far).

So on another note, I applied for a job today with the City of Atlanta. There's probably no chance I'll actually get it, but it's my first "big-girl job" application. It's a milestone. The idea of leaving early is starting to really appeal to me. It would give me a lot more time to set up this whole job-apartment-moving-to-Atlanta thing. And I'm really getting tired of these obnoxious kids. The two of them are so needy and dependent and immature that they are practically special needs children. I don't even hold it against Christine anymore, if they were my kids I'd want someone else to take care of them too. Then again, she did it to herself by raising them that way, so no sympathy from me. But they're exhausting, and I don't know if I can make it another 7 months. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I can't find where it specifically said when I'm supposed to be here until. Oh God, I'm trapped...